Too Many Leftovers: Detroit Cars Sit Unsold as Japanese Brands Surge

Dec 5, 2012 11:00 am ET

By Jeff Bennett and Christina Rogers

Detroit auto makers are piling up big stocks of passenger cars at dealers despite brisk new-vehicle sales in the U.S.—a problem that executives vowed to avoid since their painful downturn three years ago.

General Motors Co. ended November with enough Malibu sedans and Camaro sports cars to last more than five months at the current rate of sales. Ford Motor Co. had more than four months’ worth of Fiesta subcompacts and Chrysler Group LLC had a nearly six month stock of its 2013 Dodge Dart.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.